Ewaste recycling campaign features on-premises pickups

TELCO company Maxis is ramping up its electronic waste recycling campaign to curb irresponsible disposal at landfills.

Ewaste comprises defective or unwanted technology that contain toxic components which can impact the environment or pose health risks.

The campaign is run in collaboration with E-waste Recycling Through Heroes (ERTH), a social enterprise ewaste collection centre authorised by the Environment Department (DOE).The idea is to promote and encourage ewaste recycling by providing consumers in the Klang Valley, Johor Baru and Penang with an easy and convenient collection service from their preferred premises.

As part of this campaign, consumers need only request for ewaste collection on the Maxis website and list down their items to be recycled.

Consumers then can prepare those items for collection at the stipulated date and time.

Residents’ associations and building management can also collaborate with ERTH to organise ewaste collection drives in their neighbourhoods or commercial areas.

Since launching the campaign on Oct 14 in conjunction with International E-Waste Day, Maxis and ERTH have collected more than 2,000 items and prevented over five tonnes of ewaste from collecting at landfills.

The partnership also garnered international recognition, winning the Excellence in Sustainability Video Award at the GSMA M360 Asia-Pacific in recent months.

Maxis chief sales and services officer Patrick Er was heartened to see the public’s reception of the recycling-made-easy campaign that was built upon the success of Maxis’ internal campaign this year.

“We are starting small but are seeing encouraging momentum. In the long run, we hope to expand this service to other states,” he said.

ERTH founder Mohamed Tarek El-Fatatry said although ewaste represented only a small percentage of household waste, it accounted for 70% of toxic heavy metal pollution in the environment and produced health hazards.

“By piloting this project with Maxis, we hope to inspire more people around Malaysia to practice ewaste recycling and make positive changes for the environment,” he added.

Consumers who participate in the programme can enjoy free ewaste collection for a minimum of three used electronic or electric devices.

For details on the ewaste recycling campaign visit www.maxis.com.my/ewaste/